Slack-take-up device



. Janse," 1931. FLOYD fs'LAck www? DEVICE I Filed Jan. 27. 1927 VPatented Jan, 6, 1931 Uurrso arras Partnr Fics RAY H. FLOYD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOS, ASSE-:GEBR TO UNIQUE SPARK PLUG CLEANER CO., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS SLACK-TAKE-UP v DEVICE This application relates to slack take-up devices for tightening or loosening thebraltes of a motor vehicle, and the present improvements are in the nature of an improvement on the structure shown and described and covered broadly in prior application No. 110,629,

filed May 21, 1926.

Generally stated, the object of the invenv tion is to provide a novel and improved construction whereby a hydraulic slack take-up device of this general character is advantageously applied to a brake of a particular type, in which the brake isv adjacent the engine, as in motor vehicles of the so-called Ford 'i5 type, a brake of this kind comprising a brake band on the drum immediately below the footboard, controlled by a foot pedal.

It is also an object to provide certain details and features of construction and com- '.20 binations tending to increase the general efliciency and desirability of a hydraulic brake tightener or loosener of this particular character. Y

To the foregoing and other useful ends the 25 invention consists in matters hereinafter set `V engine 3,`as is common in motor vehicles of a certain type. A cylinder V4 contains a f plunger 5, the plunger rod 6 of which extends f Athrough the two end portions-7 and 8 of the brake handhaving a nut 9 at the end thereof 'to exert a pull'on the end portion 8 of the tionary portion 14 of the vehicle, so that forward motion of the pedal causes said cam engagement to cause lateral or axial movement of the pedal portion `13, in the well known manner, thereby to set the brake. For this purpose the cylinder' 4 has its stuffing boX 15 disposed in engagement with the end of the sleeve'll' and with theV hub portion 8 of the foot pedal, whereby the lateral cranial movement of the sleeve 11 and the portion 13 will move the cylinder 4 axially to the left, in Fig. 2 of the drawings, and with oil or other liquid 16 in the cylinder between the head 5 and the stutling boX 15 of the cylinder 4, such axial movement of the latter will exert a pull on the rod 6 and thus set the brake.

The oil or other liquid 16 is fed to the cylinder through a pipe 17 leading from the controller on the dash, which controller comprises a stationary cylinder 18 fastened to the dash, and the plungerl) therein, rotation of the handle 2O causingaxial movement of the plunger, thereby forcing oil out of this controller cylinder 18 through the pipe 17 into the cylinder 4, causing the plunger 5 and its rod 6 to move to the left, in Fig. 2, causing 1 /tightening of the brake.v In this way,the driver, without stopping the vehicle andwithout rising yfrom the seat, and without stooping over, can adjust the brake mechanism, an d either tighten or loosen the brake at will. At the same time the foot pedal ycan be used to set the brake in the ordinary manner. i

The hydraulic apparatus thus provided can be iilled in any suitable or desirable manner, as by providing a filler 21 in the pipe connection Abetween the controller and the take-up device. This filler may be of any Vsuitable character, such as those ordinarily L used on automobiles for engagement with the nozzle of the ordinary device by Which lubricating oil is injected into some of the bearings on motor vehicles.

The slack take-up device, it vwill be seen, is Y so effective that it can even be used to set the brake, or to release the' brake. Eutin prac- `tice/the :tootY pedal is employed, preferably,

to set or releaseV the brake, and the hydraulic Vapparatus is merely'adjusted from time to time to give the brake the degree of tightness Which will insure thebest; results.

' Thus the invention involves ajband brake having a rod or othersuitable'connection betweenfits tWo end portions, forming anraxis for the :toot pedal, in combination with means on the same axis vfor tightening and looseningthe brake. Proferably, the controller for `such Amechanismv is lhydraulic in character,

' and is preferably located on the dash of ther Vas drum, a brake band thereonpa rod attached l Vvvehicle, but the tightening and loosening means mounted on the aXis of the foot pedal, Vfor,tightening and loosening the brake, may be controlled by any suitable means Without departing from the spiritV of the invention.

Y Without disclaiming anything, and Without prejudice to any novelty disclosed, What I claim as my invention is: A Y l.. The Ycombination ofY a vehicle brake tok oneend portion of thebrake band, a Xed element forming. a guide for saidrodfforming also a stop forlthe other end portion ofthe brake band, brake adjusting devices dependy ent upon said stop to produce a pull on said 'and a manuall controllerV operable by the driver ab'outaixed axis While the vehicle is Vmoving-for operating said devicesito tighten ork loosen Vthe brake atvvill. Y

2. A structure. asspecilied in claim 1*, in

' combinationvvith means for mounting said controller. on thel dash of the vehicle, and for operatively connecting thek controller to said devices. y i A 5 3.7 A structure' as' specified in claim 1, comprising a foot pedal operative about said rod asv an aXis',-having cam engagement With said Vfixed portiomjto exert a pull on said rod to set the brake, saidrfoot pedal being mounted onV said rod betweensaid iX'edpOrtOnV and sai'ddevices, and said lixedy portion andthe mounted portion ofl the foot pedalA forming a uary, 1927. Y. c

RAY H. FLOYD.

rod, to tighten thebrake band on thedrum,

thrust lbearing forsaid devicesfvvhensaid con- Y trolleris operated to tighten the brake.

Y 4. In 'a motor vehicle,a.brale drum and lbrake band thereon immediately'in rear or the engine, a pedal mechanism for operating the brakeV band, adjustingmeans on Vsaid mechanismfor` tightening or loosening the brake band,and a controller; operative about a iXed axis ony the dashofthevehiclehaving i 

